- English translation
Other than my mother and sister, the rest of my family are no closer to me than neighbors.
- Literal wording
After my mother and my sister, all my family are my neighbors.
- Meaning and lesson
This saying voices a speaker’s hurt at the lack of affection or concern shown by other relatives. It sets a mother and sister apart as caring figures, while the remaining family members seem emotionally remote.
It conveys that kinship alone does not ensure closeness: relatives are called “neighbors” to describe emotional distance, not literal residence. It reflects a particular family experience, not a general judgment about families.
- When it is used
Use it to express sadness or resentment when other relatives seem indifferent, while recognizing a mother and sister as caring figures. It describes personal emotional distance within a family rather than a neutral account of relatives or a claim about families generally.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
Report an issue with this meaning: Other than my mother and sister, the rest of my family are no closer to me than neighbors.